Child Car Seat Safety Tips

Finding the right car seat and installing it correctly is no easy task. Then there’s the question of when to transition your child to another type of car seat. Follow these steps to help you through the decision-making process and keep your child safe.

Children under the age of one-year and less than 20 lbs. MUST be restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat. Many newer seats will restrain a child rear-facing up to 30-35 lbs. parents are encouraged to keep their children rear-facing as long as possible.

Children that are at least one-year old and 20 lbs. may be restrained in a forward-facing child safety seat with an internal harness system.

Children at least 30 lbs. may use a booster seat, but it is encouraged for parents to keep their children restrained in a forward-facing seat until at least 40 lbs.

Indiana law requires all children under the age of eight to use a child restraint system in accordance with the child restraint system manufacturer’s instruction, which are based upon the child’s height and weight. The child restraint system normally used by children in this age group is the booster seat.

All children under the age of 16 must be properly restrained either by using a seat belt or a child restraint system, to include a booster seat.

We would like to remind parents and others who transport children the following safety tips:

Child safety seats must be properly secured to the vehicles seat belt or LATCH system and should not move side to side or forward more than one-inch.

Children should stay rear-facing until one-year of age and 20 lbs.

The retainer clip that connects the two shoulder harness straps must be kept at the child’s armpit level.